Grace Fellowship Baptist Church: Recent Episodes
Passages showing that God always goes before His people. Exodus 13:21, 23:23, 32:34, Deuteronomy 1:30, 9:3, 31:3, 8, and from the New Testament: John 10:2
God did not pass by or skip over the houses with the blood, He actually leaped over the doors of those houses that had blood on them to protect all the first within from the destroyer, so that those who were within those bloodstained houses were protected under the shadow of God's wings.
By faith, Moses, when he had come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. For he esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the riches of Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith, he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible."
Once again, the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, descending into sin and walking in the ways of the Canaanites. So when they cried to the LORD, He raised up Ehud, the left-handed judge, who delivered Israel from the tyranny of Eglon and the Moabites. Sometimes deliverance comes from unusual people.
The Pharisee and Herodians tempted Jesus with a question. They were trying to get Him with a "gotcha" question. But it didn't work. The fact is, the Pharisees and the Herodians did not care at all for each other, but here, they united together against Christ. In their question, they tried to catch Jesus teaching the people to openly resist Caesar and Rome. But brethren, we are not to be resisters of the government, because God has appointed the government authorities over us. Now if the government tries to get us to disobey the laws of God, that is when we are to not obey the government. But otherwise, we are to be good citizens at the command of God.
The Vow of a Nazarite was voluntary vow of separation for either a man or a woman in Old Covenant Israel. The Nazarite was a wonderful thing for a believer in Israel to undertake. A Nazarite was one who was an uncommon believer, who vowed to follow God in a greater and deeper way. They were standard bearers and shining lights in Israel. Their lives were to be distinct for God, and they were to point others to God from their lives. The three notable Nazarites in the Bible were Samson, Samuel, and John Baptist, but they were called to be Nazarites from the womb. All of their mothers were barren, not able to have children until they gave birth to Nazarites.
If you are a Christian, you are united to God through faith in Jesus Christ. In John 17:20-23, Jesus prayed for every believer that would believe in Him in future times, and His prayer was that you, Christian would be one with He and His Father. If this is true of you, shouldn't it be that you have a very special private and secret relationship with God?
Enoch, who was the seventh from Adam was a preachers of righteousness. His message from God to the antediluvians of his day are written in Jude 14-15. Abel's faith led to his bloody death, Enoch's faith that he would not die at all! Why did God take up Enoch out of this world? He walked with God, and had this testimony that he pleased God. This is the same testimony that we should desire for ourselves and in our own Christian lives!
Abel offering unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. When we read Genesis 4, we read that God accepted Abel's person and then his offering. In contrast, God rejected Cain and also his offering. So don't focus only on their offerings and think to yourself that Abel had correct offering and Cain didn't. Although I do believe Abel brought "a more excellent offering," I would tell you that if Cain would have gone back and brought the identical offering that Abel brought, God would have rejected Cain, again! And that is because he brought his offering with a wicked heart.
Many in the church today, lack assurance. Many religions in the world teach a works based salvation. Christianity is the only "religion" in the world in which God provided all that is needed for salvation and reconciliation to God, all that is left for us is to believe what God has done. Assurance: What is this great truth and what is this great love. God's love is not earned, it is freely given. Christian, your God loves you with an everlasting love.
This is the story of Othniel the son of Kenaz. He was the first of the judges in Israel. Israel continued to do evil in the sight of the LORD, therefore God delivered them into the hands of their enemies, (the King of Mesopotamia). They were worshiping Baal and Ashteroth. They had forsaken the LORD.
This present world in which we live is continuing to descend into wickedness. We cry for God's judgment to take place on this wicked world. For your sake Lord, we are killed all the day long, therefore we are accounted as sheep to the slaughter.
A parable is a story that is intended to teach a spiritual truth. This is the parable of the wicked farmers. This is a continuation from the previous chapter in which the Pharisees were challenging Jesus' authority. Now he tells this parable about them, and how they were treating Him.
There is so much anger in the world. We've seen this anger in calloused killings that are taking place in our society.
In the book of Judges, we see the repeated cycle of sin in the people of Israel. When they sinned and were overwhelmed by their enemies and cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up Judges to deliver them . But when the Judge was dead, they returned to their sins.
Many do not know who Jesus was and is. We must understand that He is fully God and fully Man.
The creation is declaring and teaching us every day that the world and all that we see in the world was intricately created by the wisdom and skill of the God of the Bible. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament declares His handiwork. We understand and believe these things in the creation "through faith."
Paul wrote to Timothy that in the latter days, some would depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. To depart the faith of Christ is to renounce or defect from Christ. Many in Israel, were falling away and renouncing their faith in God in apostasy.
In the last two verses of Hebrews 10, we read, the just shall live by faith, but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him. Now in Hebrews 11, the writer continues to encourage Hebrew believers of the first century (and us) to continue in the faith of Christ, looking forward in hope to the promise of eternal life in heaven.
In the cursed fig tree the Lord Jesus taught His apostles how to trust God by faith in their prayers. Prayer is a work, one of great difficulty at times. We are to labor fervently in our prayers. The apostles asked the Lord Jesus, "Teach us to pray." Jesus cursed the fig tree, and then referred to moving mountains, but Jesus wasn't teaching His disciples that they could literally move a mountain, but He was a saying, when you have an insurmountable problem before you, bring that problem to Me, saith Jesus! Come in faith, and I will move that mountain. But don't forget, in regard to your prayer, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."
"For you have need of patience (or endurance and perseverance), that, after ye have done the will of God, ye may receive the promise." It wasn't that these first century Hebrew Christians were destitute of patience, they showed it, (Hebrews 10:32), but at this point, they simply needed fresh grace from God and a fresh infusion of patience.
It may seem that false accusers are getting away with their sin, but there will be a day of reckoning. There may be times in your life when friends, family, or even some in the church may falsely accuse you of something. In those times, we must trust God and not take vengeance against them. We must leave these situations to the Lord.
Jesus entered Jerusalem for the final time in His public ministry. This has been historically called Palm Sunday. In this passage, Jesus fulfills what is written in Zechariah 9:9: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Jerusalem: Behold thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." As He rides into Jerusalem, the people should Hosanna, which means "Save Now." The problem, they were looking for salvation from Romans occupation and not salvation from their sins and the captivity of Satan.
I can't help think that the writer of Hebrews was weeping when he wrote this to his Hebrew brethren. These "professed" believers were on the precipice of falling away into the irrecoverable sin of apostasy. When we speak of God's vengeance against sinners, this should bring great sadness to our souls.
The book of Hebrews is full of warnings, specifically written to Hebrew believers of the first century, who were being persecuted and compelled by Judaizers to return to the dead Old Covenant system. But this is a timeless warning, which is relevant to us today. The sin of apostasy (or of falling away from Christ and renouncing our profession of faith in Christ) is rampant in our day, in America, There is very little to no persecution and fear for those who are Christians in America. But what there is, is far worse, there is ease, comfort, prosperity, and love of the world. These sins plague the church today. It is as if Satan has said, I won't persecute American Christians, I'll just draw them into the world! I will just allure them back to me and back into the world. And in doing so, I will make them adversaries against Christ.
Jezreel, which initially, in Hosea 1:4 became synonymous with bloodshed, was name of Hosea and Gomer's first child. Jezreel means, God will scatter and God will sow our plant. Hosea and Gomer's second and third children were named Lo-ruhamah (a daughter), her name means, I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel, and then their son, Lo-ammi, which means, you are not my people, and I will not be your God. Thus, God scattered Israel in His wrath to the nations of the world, said of them, ye are not my people. But then in Hosea 1:10-11, God promises to gather and united Judah and Israel once again as one, and this would include the Gentiles.
Do we trust the Lord in the midst of our struggles. David teaches us in this Psalm how to pray and trust God amid his enemies.
Our hearts are sprinkled within which cleanses our filthy and guilty consciences, our bodies, or our outward actions are sanctified or washed with pure water. We are cleansed from all our sins by the sprinkling of the blood of Christ, and we are washed by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. The last to "Let us" commands from the writer, are Hold fast to our profession of faith in Christ, and "Let us' consider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works.
Often times, very devout Christians will come to the Lord's table with trepidation and fear of taking it, this, when they have had a difficult week, struggling with sin, Satan and the world. Thus, they may think, since I have had such a difficult time this week, I should refrain. But if we are in Christ, and partakers of the New Covenant, we are not coming in an unworthy manner, but we are worthy, and that, because of Christ and His blood, which was shed for us. The one caveat, if we are harboring sin, or our hearts are cold and we are in a bad place, perhaps we should refrain until we have made our hearts right.
How do you deal with your sins? Do you say, O, no big deal, I sinned, I will just ask for forgiveness. Do we cast our sins aside and say, well, God doesn't remember my sins. Or, are we grieved over our sins, and we certainly should be as Christians.
In Hebrews 10:22, because of the work of Jesus our Great High Priest, now the writer encourages us to "Draw near to God" with true hearts, and in full assurance of faith. Are we taking advantage of our free and unrestricted access to God? Are we drawing near to God with true, truthful, sincere, and single hearts? Is our confidence in Christ such that we are assured of our access to God through Christ? Is our assurance based on the work of Jesus who is our Great High Priest?
This is not an arrogant or earthly boldness, but it is a confidence that we have in Christ, secured for us by Jesus our Great High Priest! The Lord Jesus has opened the way for us into the presence of God through the veil of His flesh, (or His perfect humanity).
David expresses confidence in God in his distress. First, In this Psalm we see David's appeal for help. Second: Confrontations that David had with those who were faithless. Third, the affirmation of God's favor. And last, a call to righteousness.
Having completed the doctrinal part of Hebrews, and after the writer has made his argument that Jesus is a Mediator of a better covenant filled with better promises, and that Jesus is a better high priest than Aaron or any Levite high priest; and Jesus is also a better sacrifice than all of the animal sacrifices offered in the time of the Old Covenant. And now Jesus is our great high priest, who is in heaven now, interceding for us in the presence of God. When man sinned in Eden, Adam and Eve were driven from nearness to God and from His immediate presence, and it was God who made a way, "opened the way" for sinners to be saved, and to once again be near to God, and to draw near to God. Thus, the writer encourages Hebrew believers of the first century to draw near to God.
Bartimaeus, a blind man heard of Jesus coming where he was sitting, and thus, Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus for mercy.
David was excited about how God had guided him through all of his adversities and trials. He was very descriptive as he praised God with all his heart.
This was a battle report on the children of Israel, which teaches us, how are we doing in the battle. In this passage, we will see that Israel failed to finish off their enemies.
The cross is at the center of Christian theology. Paul, in Galatians 6:14 said, "But God forbid tat I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, but whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." Jesus, at this point in His earthly like and humanity was on His way to where His enemies were awaiting Him. He knew that He was going up to Jerusalem to suffer and die for the sins of the world. And, that He would rise from the dead on the third day.
Kiss the Son in submission and loyalty! "Kiss the Son lest He be angry, and ye perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. But blessed are they that put their trust in Him." Consider the woman who broke the alabaster box of ointment, who wept at Jesus feet.
In this section of Hebrews, the writer makes his final argument to Hebrews believers of the first-century, and us, that perfect salvation and atonement for sins can only be given by Christ's one offering of Himself. Christ perfects forever them that are sanctified. The word perfect speaks to the atonement of Christ, that only His offering can save us to the uttermost, which none of the Old Covenant offerings and sacrifices could do.
This is a marvelous picture of God in His glory. This is one of the most worshipful pictures of God in all of the bible. This happened in the year that King Uzziah died. He reigned for a very long time, 52 years. To the people of that day, it was a very long time. And though it was very long, Uzziah's reign came to an end. But we must know that God is the High and Lofty One which inhabits eternity! And His reign shall never end.
The writer once again teaches first century Christians (and us) that the law could not make them perfect; could not bring them a complete atonement and forgiveness of sins. "The law could not make the comers thereunto perfect." And then, in (V5-10), the writer shows us a divine conversation that happened between God the Father and God the Son. God, says the Son, was never satisfied with sacrifices and offerings. And he shows us that Christ was not just a sinless human sacrifice, but in Jesus' life and in His death, He delighted to do the Father's will. The writer was teaching Hebrews Christians that there was so much more to Christ than just an earthly and fleshly body to be offered up in sacrifice. He delighted to do His Father's will! There had never been, nor ever shall there be a Man to walk upon this earth whom God delighted in like the Lord Jesus Christ!
Whatever the world might say about following Christ, and the things that are associated with the Christian life, it must be remembered that the only way to live this life is "in Christ." No one that follows Christ will be disappointed in the world to come, in heaven, when our salvation and our everlasting life is finally "sight."
Jehu was anointed King in Israel by Elisha the prophet, by the command of God, to carry out the prophecy of God to Elijah the prophet in 1 Kings 21. This was concerning Ahab and his wife Jezebel. Ahab is one of the most wicked kings in the history of Israel, and his wife was responsible for having many of the prophets of the LORD killed. Jehu carried out God's orders, God said to Jehu, you did all that was in my heart to do concerning the house of Ahab, (so your sons will sit on the throne of Israel for 4 generations), but in all that you did to the house of Ahab, you did it to promote yourself and your own glory, rather than to honor Me. Jehu was all about himself and his zeal and his reputation. And worst of all, though he killed all the worshipers of Baal, he kept the golden calves that Jeroboam the son of Nebat had made, and he even perpetuated idolatry in Israel.
The big question from the rich young man was, "What must I do to inherit eternal life? This man came running to Jesus and kneeled before Jesus! This is good! This showed that he had humility. This young man called Jesus, "Good Master." Thus, he knew that Jesus was a "Good Teacher." Jesus answered his question with a question. Why do you call me good? He wanted this man to know who he was speaking to.
The writer has now transitioned from Christ's one offering and death for the sins of fallen humanity, as our Great High Priest, to our appointed death, which will be but once. Hebrews 9:27. And after this, the judgment. And then in (V28), the writer describes Christians as "Them that look for Him" to whom He shall appear when He returns. Now this does not mean that Christians are the only ones that will see Christ when He returns, for we know as written in Revelation 1:7 that "every eye shall see Him." But we as believers in Christ are those who, as Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:8, "love and anticipate His appearing."
Just as our birth was appointed by God, so it is also appointed the day of our death. As the writer of Hebrews as strongly argued that Christ died but once for the sins of fallen humanity, as our Great High Priest, so now, he calls our attention to the fact that each of us shall die but once, and after this, the judgment. Since there are no do-overs, none of us, after we have passed through the gates of death, we cannot return to make anything right or to change anything that was left undone. We cannot return to believe in Christ, now that we realize (in death) that we neglected the business of our souls.
The Lord Jesus is ruling now. He is "Sovereignly" in control of everything. Nothing is happening in the world without God permission. God in the Old Testament warned sinners in Israel over and over again to turn from their sins in repentance. What we are all called to do as children of God is to (by His grace) serve Him with fear and trembling.
Job was a good father. He was a great man, a devoted man with a good and godly reputation, he was no dishonest, but well respected, and that is because he was a man who was continually turning from sin and wickedness. Furthermore, he was a rich man, and he was also a man who was the father of 10 children, for whom he continually prayed. And then, Job followed God in both the good and difficult times.
As fathers love to hear and answer the pleas and heart-cries of their children, so our heavenly Father loves to hear and answer the pleas, prayers, and heart-cries of their believing children! The effectual fervent prayers of a righteous man avails much! Our prayers to our God ought to be such as to move God on our behalf! How much more than when many of us prayer fervently to God! Even though Jehoshaphat's army was formidable, he would not depend upon his army, but rather upon God!
The wonderful doctrine of the intercession of Christ should be a constant comfort to our souls! Jesus ever lives to make intercession "FOR US" His beloved saints. And since His intercession is continual, since the Risen and Ascended living Christ is always appearing before the face of God for us, we should always be full of comfort and rejoicing that we are saved to the uttermost!
Christ saves to the uttermost - Christians are the possession of the Lord Jesus Christ! You, child of God are bought with a prices. What a glorious thing to be the inheritance of Christ! Those at Babel sought to break the bands of God from them, to seek by their own self-will to reach heaven, but God scattered them to become all nations. But, in Christ, all nations are gathered together. Revelation 7:9-10: After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb."
Jesus' Words on marriage and divorce were controversial in the 1st century, and they are still controversial today. What He taught them was that marriage is not a contract, it is a covenant between and man and woman before God. The Pharisees came to Jesus tempting Him, asking Jesus if it was lawful for a man to put away his wife. And that Moses allowed it. So the were trying to trap Jesus, and pit Him against the law of Moses. Jesus answer their question with a question, pointing them back to the law of Moses, and told them, Moses allowed this because of the hardness of your hearts.
If the people of Old Testament Israel knew anything, they knew that blood must be shed if their sins would be forgiven. Hebrews 9:22, "Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins." And then in Hebrews 9:23, the writer teaches us that the types and shadows of heavenly things (the tabernacle, the ark, and the vessels of ministry) were purified (sanctified) with the blood of animals. They must be if God would descend upon the tabernacle and ark. And then he writes, that heavenly things themselves (the heavenly sanctuary) was purified or sanctified with better sacrifices than those animal sacrifices. Let me just say that heaven is not impure or defiled in any way. Ref. Revelation 22:17. But when Christ entered into heaven by His own blood, heaven was then made ready to receive us. Heaven could not receive us until it first received the Risen Christ! If heaven would be prepared for us and us for heaven, Christ must first enter therein with His blood and prepare it for us! John 14:1-6.
Jehu obeyed God's command when he carried out God's command to wipe out the house of Ahab and Jezebel. But not only did he eliminate sin in Israel, sadly, he perpetuated it. He obeyed God, but then he did not obey God or walk in his ways. Jehu was concerned about getting the glory for himself rather than for God. Ref. "Come and see my zeal for the LORD." He was too busy blowing his own trumpet, rather than glorifying God.
Hosea, the prophet of God, who's name means savior or deliverer was sent to Israel, (to the northern kingdom, the 10 tribes) to call them to repentance for their sins of idolatry. It was a time of prosperity and faithlessness in Israel. God would shock the people of Israel in Hosea's marriage to a woman who was a harlot. His marriage to Gomer was to show the people of Israel what they were doing to Him! But in all of Hosea's prophecy, we see God's unwavering love for His covenant people! He would not leave nor forsake them.
First: God is victoriously seat in the heavens having conquered His enemies. Second: God, who is sitting in the heavens laughs at His enemies, and Thirdly, God will have His enemies in derision or He shall mock at those that would fight against Him.
Christ, by His own blood entered once into the holy place (in heaven) having obtained eternal redemption for us, this by His blood. Christ accomplished what no Levitical Priest could do, nor could eternal redemption be obtained with the blood of bulls and goats. All of the sacrifices and ordinances of the Old Covenant could only make the comers ceremonially and outwardly clean, but only by Christ are we made inwardly cleansed in our hearts! Now in Christ, we have eternal redemption, through Him who through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself without spot to God. All those who have been redeemed by Christ, have an eternal inheritance in heaven.
Jesus gives us a warning. We must not trifle with our sins, but we must be ruthless with our sins, casting them from our lives. If we do not kill our sins, our sins will take us down.
The writer continues after teaching the better promises of the New Covenant, and now by showing the excellence of the New Covenant, by showing the weakness and insufficiency of the Old Covenant and its ordinance. And then there's this extraordinary truth, in the Old Covenant sacrifices, there was a remembrance of sins every year. And then there was this, under the old covenant there was a remembrance of your sins every year, but not under the New Covenant. God promised, your sins and your iniquities, will I remember no more.
In this passage, the Apostles were arguing among themselves about who among them would be the greatest. Jesus taught them that greatness in the Kingdom of heaven is not like the proud greatness in the world. Trying to be first in the world is not the greatness in Christ's Kingdom. There's always a desire to be number one, but Christ taught His disciples, the last would be first, and the first would be last.
God's awesome and unlimited power is hard to comprehend. And yet, He is all-powerful. God is in this passage called, my Rock, my Fortress, my Deliverer, The God of my rick, in Him will I trust. All of us should be able to say what David says here.
James having taught us about an untamed tongue now teaches us about two wisdoms. One from above and the other from beneath. You will know what is the prominent wisdom of your life by how you behave and conduct yourself in this world.
This is a Messianic Psalm which speaks prophetically of how God's enemies raged against Jesus, the Anointed King.
Mary, a young and faithful virgin, who lived in Nazareth of Galilee was greatly honored to be chosen by God to carry the Christ into the world, and to be mother to the Son of God. One cannot overstate what she must have felt within her heart, we read her song of praise when she visited her cousin Elisabeth, who was herself partaking of a miraculous birth in John the Baptist. But again, it cannot be overstated that Mary would conceive and carry the Savior of the world into the world. The salvation of Israel that she had long waited for would come into the world through her own body. The Word was made flesh within her very flesh.
This took place as Jesus and Peter, James, and John, came down from the Mount of Transfiguration. After this great spiritual experience, they come back down into the gloom, sin, and unbelief in the world. The other disciples could not cast out the unclean spirit from the young man. The young man's father was crying out for help! And, the scribes and Pharisees were there causing trouble.
The Lord Jesus, who is the Faithful and True Witness, and the Beginning of the Creation of God, spoke to the church at Laodicea about their selfishness and love for the world. Jesus told them they should be refreshingly cold, like a cold drink of water or hot, like a hot cup of tea. No one wants to drink anything lukewarm.
Two questions were asked, one by the disciples, and one by Jesus. The disciples question was, Why say the scribes that Elijah must come first? Jesus question was, How is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
We know that the Gentiles are included in the New Covenant promises prophesied by Jeremiah in (C31:31-34). The easy answer is found in 1 Corinthians 11, where Paul taught this Gentile church about the Lord's Supper. Paul taught them about the New Testament which most assuredly was to them as children of God! But throughout the Old Testament scriptures, (all the way back to Abraham), there are promises that God would save a people from every nation, kindred, tribe, and tongue. In fact, in Hosea 1:10-2:1, God spoke of those whom He previously called "not my people" that they would be His people, and He would be their God. Hosea spoke of Israel, (the 10) tribes, and Paul used this passage (this promise) to show the inclusion of the Gentiles into what we might call spiritual Israel. Romans 9:22-26
These last two promises of the New Covenant are rich and profound in that God is merciful to our unrighteousness, and He no longer remembers our sins!
In the New Covenant, God has accomplished all that was required of that covenant for the sake of His people and for our salvation. Today, I will put my law into your mind and write it upon your heart. I will be your God, and you will be my people, and finally, you will know Me saith the Lord, you will have knowledge of Me. All of this is the work of the Spirit of God.
This passage in 1 Corinthians 15 is Paul's master defense of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and the resurrection of the saints. If the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead didn't happen, than we are not saved. But, as Paul points out in this passage, the resurrection of Jesus Christ was testified to be true by many eye witnesses!
This is one of the most important chapters in all of the Bible, and that is because it speaks of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this passage Paul was confronting a dangerous and deadly heresy. For if Jesus did not rise from the dead, we are not saved. This was a gospel refresher, Paul was reminding the saints at Corinth about what the gospel is!
The only One that has the power to establish us in our Christian life is God. When God saved you, you were saved by the power of God, and now you are kept by the power of God. But the essential component that you must have if you would experience God's power in the establishing of your faith in Christ, you must be rooted in the Word of God. Paul taught the saints at Rome, if they would be established in their faith by God's power, it would be according (and through) to the gospel of Jesus Christ!
This is one of those passages in the Word of God that teaches us that we are the church militant! There is a "military" nature to your Christian life. You are to be a "good soldier of Jesus Christ." Why? Because you are engaged in spiritual warfare, thus, you must always be ready to stand your ground in Christ. In this passage, we are warned to "mark" or " keep an eye on those that would introduce "contrary doctrines" or false teachings into the church, and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own selves.
Don't ever think that God was not gracious to Israel in the Old Testament, He was nothing by gracious and kind, and longsuffering toward them. And it was in the midst of their rebellion against Him that He gave them the promise of the New Covenant, in which He perfect all of the promises of it Himself, for their sakes. He didn't say that He had HAD with them, but instead, I will be gracious to you. "For I will be merciful to your unrighteousness." That's grace!
The conclusion of the Lord's prayer teaches us that God deserves all the honor and glory for all things. For it is His Kingdom that grants all of our petitions. And whatsoever is granted to us is for the advancement and glory of His Name and Kingdom. It is the kindness of God and the mercy of God that He grants us those things which will honor Him and His Kingdom in our lives.
In the transfiguration of Jesus, He gave His apostles a sneak peak into His glory. In fact, in John 1:14, the Apostle John wrote, "and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
There were many who contributed to the gospel ministry of the Apostle Paul, who supported him in many different ways, and whom God used to take care of things that might have slowed or hindered Paul's ministry. Some risked their lives for Paul and the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. These dear saints, although for many of them, all we know are their names, nonetheless, God honored their memory for their service to Paul, and ultimately to the Lord Jesu Christ.
What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ? Many there are who make false statements about the Christian life such as this: If you are faithful to Christ and to His church, you are going to be successful, the Lord will bless your finances, and you're going to have good health. No adversity, no troubles! But Jesus never promised that type of life to those who follow Him. But what He did command those who would follow Him is, "Whoever will be my disciple, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." The cross was a symbol of suffering and death.
This multitude of people who followed Jesus had eyes but they could not see, and ears but they could not hear. Instead of 'seeing' Jesus as their Promised Messiah, and with eyes of faith for Who He was, all they saw was the barley loaves and bread that filled their bellies. Jesus then proceeded to teach them about necessary and essential bread for their souls! They murmured when He spoke of Himself as the bread of God, but when He said to them, "The bread I will give is my flesh," many were offended!
That blessed Man is Jesus Christ. The only way that we can ever be blessed, and to truly be the man in this Psalm is if we trust in that "Blessed Man."
The old covenant was no more. Now the writer of Hebrews shows 1st century Hebrew Christians that not only is Jesus a better high priest than Aaron, but He is a better Mediator than Moses, and of a better covenant.
The term Son of Man (many believe) was borrowed from the book of Daniel 7:13-14, which term Jesus used of Himself. This means to be exalted as being human, but it also means that He was God in the flesh.
Lead me not into temptation because I do not trust myself in life on my own. I need Christ!
Paul was called to be the Apostle to the Gentiles, to many peoples of many nations. Is your gospel influence in your little part of the world increasing and growing? Do you care for souls like the Apostle Paul care for and loved souls?
Is God's grace abounding in you? Grace and peace be multiplied! How does grace continue to flow to you from God? Through the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord! And then there's this, since you have been saved by God's grace, shouldn't you now sin less? Shouldn't you be better than you were than you were lost? I am not preaching sinless perfection, but rather a growing and maturing in our faith in such a way in which we sin less!
This has been a very dark book, God declaring his judgments upon Israel for their sins. But in these last verses of Amos, there is a dramatic change in Amos' tone to the house of Israel. God tells Amos to speak of Israel's golden age.
This Psalm is connected to Psalm 42. We all go through periods of spiritual depression. The Psalmist is calling out to God to help him; he had been treated in an unjust manner.
Are you running the Christian race to receive the prize that you already have in Christ?
This first part of Amos' vision is bad news for the people of the northern Kingdom of Israel. This was in Bethel.
After God gave Israel a great victory, the people began to complain against Moses and God, and so God sent fiery serpents among them.
Hebrews Christians in the first century were being compelled to go back to Old Testament patterns, types, and shadows of what had already come to pass in Christ. Thus, the writer compelled them to look past the pattern to the heavenly reality and substance.
This prayer expands far past daily physical provisions. The Lord wants us to depend on Him entirely for everything in our lives.
The Jewish leaders of Jesus' day had made void the commandment of God for their own man-made traditions. We must be very careful of making and keeping our own religions traditions rather than keeping and obeying God's Holy Word.
Our hope is not a "hope so" hope, but a sure hope grounded in the truth of God's Word and promises.
The only High Priest ever able to bring an offering to God acceptable to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the fallen world was Jesus Christ. Jesus was both High Priest and Offering.
Hard preaching offends people. But Amos was faithful to God to preach His Word in truth.
The disciples' hearts were hardened, but not in such a way that they were rebelling against Jesus and His Word, but they did not consider the miracle of the loaves, that great miracle, and of how powerful Jesus was to feed the multitude!
Thy Kingdom come: First: The spread of the gospel to all the world. Second: The sanctification of believers and their growth in grace. The increase of holiness in our lives as believers. Third: The defeat of Satan and his subordinate kingdom. Fourth: The return of Jesus Christ.
You may feel as if you don't have much to help someone else, but God is able to use what you have to fulfill the needs of those whom you meet who do have needs. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Does prayer matter? Yes! Although God is sovereign, we have a responsibility to pray. We are taught and commanded to pray. God heard Amos' prayer. Amos interceding caused God to cease from judgment against Israel. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much!
Abraham was truly a great man! God chose to make His covenant with him, that "in his seed, all the families of the earth should be blessed." But when Melchizedek met Abram when he returned from the slaughter of the kings, Abram paid tithes to Melchizedek blessed him, thus showing that Melchizedek was greater. Melchizedek was a priest and a king, and a prominent type of Christ.
David, when he was fleeing from Absalom was in a place in which he may have lost the kingdom, but he was still able to cry out O God, thou art my God! David thirsted and longed for God with every fiber of his being.
Are we compassionate people, to those who are lost and without Christ in the world? Do we look upon them with compassion, as sheep having no shepherd?
In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray, "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name." God's Name, reputation, and character must be set apart and exalted when we come into His presence by prayer.
The parable gives us the imagery of heaven being like a great banquet. Note the insincere excuses from some who were bidden to come.
God swore an oath to Abraham and to us, the heirs of promise, that Christ, the promised seed would come, and then God swore an oath in Psalm 110:4, which is the Psalm of the Priest-King, that the Lord Jesus would be a great high priest forever, but not after the order of Levi, but after the order of Melchizedek.
At the heart of Israel's sins in this text, was pride. Pride is abhorrent to God, since it is a self-exalting sin.
We believe incarnation theology. Jesus did not set aside His deity, but He did set aside His glory to take upon Himself flesh in the form of a servant. The God of glory set aside His glory. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.
The Christ child was conceived in the womb of Mary by the Holy Spirit. This was the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15, and of the Promised Seed of the woman Who came into the world, and Who, as Man would crush the serpents' head.
Do you know "the time," that it is high time for you to awake out of your spiritual slumber, for now is your salvation nearer than when you believed.
This wonderful debt of love is given to each of us as children of Christ. If you are a recipient of the love of Christ, you are obligated to love as Christ loved. Don't let it be that when you ought to love that you don't love. Don't let the thought "I have no love to give" be in any of you!
The writer of Hebrews points Hebrew believers to Abraham who patiently endured in faith in God. He staggered not in his faith in God's promises, even in the midst of circumstances that might have tempted him to distrust God.
Prayer is not a fleshly attempt to call upon the Lord, but it is a moving of God's Spirit within us to pray. This prayer teaches us to draw near to God as our Father in heaven. Thus we, as God's children ought to pray always!
This passage are the Words of Christ as He spoke to Nicodemus. This sending of God's Son is the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15 and that Promised Seed of the woman Who would crush the serpent's head.
We must learn to rely upon God in all of our earthly circumstances, not matter how difficult. Whatever God is doing in your life is right!
We should never be ashamed of the gospel of Christ, but we should be ashamed of our sins against a Holy God! In the cross and gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes it! In the gospel of Christ, the righteousness of God is revealed to those who have faith in Christ!
The image of God was defaced in the man when he sinned against God in disobeying God's command.
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." To speak evil of our political leaders is to speak evil of God who put them there. Be careful of falling into this sin, dear Christian. We never see the Lord Jesus doing this, and neither should we.When you do speak evil of our leaders, dear Christian, you are bringing reproach the Name of Christ and hurting your witness for Christ.
The doctrine of the trinity is foundational to our Christianity. When God made made, it was "Let us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) make man in our own image.
After God had saved those first Christians on the Day of Pentecost, there was a spiritual harmony among them. They did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart! This literally means, there were no stones of deceit and nothing contrary or sinful between any of them. There was no sinful strife. Before they had gladly received the Word, they were compelled and motivated by wickedness and sin, now, they were motivated and compelled by the Spirit of God and love of Christ which was in them!
Herod's adultery and sin in killing John the Baptist. And then his fear of him that he had risen from the dead. He was conscious stricken by the death of John the Baptist.
Psalm 51 was David's Psalm of repentance after he had sinned against God in committing adultery with Bathsheba, and then in having her husband Uriah killed on the battlefield. Psalm 32, was David's Psalm of restoration and instruction, in it he expressed blessedness and happiness for being forgiven for his sins, which he acknowledged, repented of, and confessed to his God!
This was written primarily to the rich and upper class people who were in Israel. They were oppressing poor. Many in the world today are at ease, carefree, and happy in their sins.
If you would give your whole heart to God as a living sacrifice, and prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God, you will pursue peace with all men and not revenge. We ought never to return evil for evil. Retaliation and revenge should not be part of our character as children of God. If we, as Christians return evil for evil, we destroy the testimony of Christ in us.
Jesus LEARNED OBEDIENCE by the things which He suffered, this in all of His life, but the context here is, specifically in His final hours and in His death. His learning obedience was not from failing or previously disobeying, but in all of what He faced and suffered, He maintained His integrity and perfect righteousness, reacting sinlessly and in accordance with every command of God to every insult and lie from the wicked, and to being betrayed and denied by His own disciples, and finally, when He was forsaken by His Father. His confession of learning obedience was, "Not my will, but thine be done." He completely committed Himself to His God and Father! He learned obedience by and through experiences which He had never face as a man. Where Adam failed, Jesus shined forth perfectly!
When we partake of the Lord's Supper, it is a "Thanksgiving Meal" for we are thanking God for the broken body and shed blood of Christ on His cross for our sins!
Dear brethren, it doesn't matter who is in the white house, who has the majority on the supreme court, or who controls both houses of congress, because "The LORD IS REIGNING!"
If we would all be one minded as brethren in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, we must all be "learning Christ" in His Word, and being "taught by Him." If we have the Spirit of God within, how can we not be likeminded?
God would judge the northern kingdom of Israel or their deficient and faithless worship of God. God hated their feast days and their solemn assemblies. Their worship was man-made!
The day of the LORD was coming upon the people of Israel! It was a time of lamentation and wailing and judgment, for the day of the LORD's vengeance was upon the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel for their sins!
The evidence that you are CLOSE and INTIMATE with God, and walking with Him will be manifest by you deliberately and daily finding that "Certain Place" of solitude and quietness to seek the presence of your Heavenly Father in prayer!
Do you have Christian Empathy? Do you enter into other's rejoicings and sorrows? Do you try to understand what they're going through and come alongside them? Or are you always selfishly consumed with yourself.
Jesus had been delayed in getting to Jairus' daughter by the woman with the issue of blood. But now while He yet spoke, messengers came to Jairus telling him to not trouble the Master, for your daughter is dead. But Jesus told Jairus, "Be not afraid, only believe."
In obedience to the scriptures we are to take the Lord's Supper as a church regularly. It is a gospel presentation every time.
In Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus sought His Father fervently and violently in prayer regarding the cup appointed Him!
This is not a natural response, but it should and must be your response to persecution dear children of God!
God may seem like He is silent, but He is not, and He will not remain silent. God shall roar out of Zion against His enemies.
Korah and his band of rebels thought to honor themselves by revolting against Moses and Aaron, and actually against God in seeking the priesthood. These fools set themselves in battle array against God and perished for it.
It ought to always be in our hearts to be sharers of what God has given to us with poor and needy brethren. This grace and practice should be part of your life, dear Christian!
From this text, Jesus showed that He had absolute power over demons! Jesus did not struggle to cast out demons, and here, He cast out an entire Legion of demons with His Word!
God knows you better than you know yourself! And, although you may hide yourself and your inward thoughts from those around you, your secret thoughts are fully known to God!
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;"
One of the ordinary means of grace is the visible church, which is the organized society of professing believers where the gospel is preached, and the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper is administered according to the scriptures.
If you would rejoice in anticipation of your eternal future, be patient in adversities and trials in this life, you must be often at the throne of grace!
The Lord Jesus taught us about the power of the Word of God (the gospel) in this passage in (3) short parables
In these passages, during Josiah's reign, the book of the law of the LORD was found, which had been lost.
Christian, Christ opened to way into the presence of God for you. Make use of your special access to your heavenly Father and to His throne of grace!
Christian, true rejoicing is detached from the things of this life and fixed upon God and our eternal future!
If you are not at rest as a Christian, you are living the Christian life like an unbelieving believer! Christian, you are to be laboring to enter into the promised rest of Christ!
Baptism is rightly administered by immersion in deep water, in which the believer is submersed under the water.
There were 2 goats required on the day of atonement, one to be offered in the holy place, and the other a scapegoat to be released into an uninhabited land.
In this passage, the writer of Hebrews teaches Jewish believers of the 1st century (and us) from the bad example of the children of Israel provoking God on their long journey from Egypt to Canaan. They heard God, saw the miraculous works of God, but hardened their hearts against God in unbelief!
What is True Family? Some in your blood family will not understand your faith in Christ?
Baptism is an ordinance of the church, and an emblem of the death of the old life and beginning of a new life in the believer.
Hypocritical or pretended love will open express itself to be seen, applauded, and to get attention. If you would love like you should love, dear child of God, then you must be rooted and grounded in love!
God has dealt to each of us a measure of faith to use for His glory and Kingdom. Don't exalt or press yourself into an office or ministry that God has not given you the faith to fulfill.
In Luke 6:12, Jesus prayed all night before He chose His 12 apostles. What an apostles? Why did Jesus choose apostles? Are there apostles today?
After the salvation of our souls by the mercies of God, by the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, NOW, since you are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which is God's, which is YOUR living and daily sacrifice unto God!
The theme of the book of Amos is the justice of God against the wicked! We must trust God in this... justice is coming against the rich who have oppressed the righteous and the poor.
Fathers are to be the principle speakers and teachers of the truths of God in their families and to their children.
Mark reflects on the fame of Jesus. Despite all of the opposition against him from the religious scribes and Pharisees, the Kingdom of Christ advanced mightily.
Jesus in His death destroyed the devil's power over death when He died a sinner's death, as a perfect and righteous Man! After He paid the penalty and punishment for the sins of the world, death could not keep Him, since He had no sins of His own!
Oftentimes we Amen, when the preacher preaches against sins in the world, but there is silence when the preacher preaches against sins in the church.
The writer of Hebrews transitioned to Jesus' superiority over the angels, to Jesus' superiority over Moses, the Levitical Priests, and the Apostles.
Just as Israel needed judges to keep them straight, so Christians need pastors to keep them straight!
David didn't look at things happening around him, but to the LORD would designed every trial in his life.
Every one of us ought to strive for and desire these qualities and qualifications of a deacon for ourselves.
This message was prompted by "pronouns" and someone wanting to be identified by their "preferred pronoun" when it is intuitively and biblically obvious that they are NOT what they SAY they are.
The power of God's preached Word. How is the Word made effectual in the preaching of God's Word?
On your worst day, dear child of God, Jesus is not ashamed to call you His brethren! You have no other friend in the world like your Elder Brother Jesus!
We often see injustice in the world today... We see the people getting away with evil everywhere, and we ask, Lord, where, LORD, is your justice against the wicked? Know this, beloved, The LORD will roar from Zion!
Jesus had to take upon Himself human flesh if fallen sinners would be redeemed, reclaimed, and reconciled to God.
When the temple was built in Solomon's day, every piece of timber and stone used in construction was prepared and finished before it was brought to the temple site. It was then built in silence and without any tools.
A herdsman of Tekoa, who God called to be a prophet during the days of King Uzziah of Judah, and Jeroboam II of Samaria.
If the Word spoken through angels was to be obeyed, how much more the Word spoken by Christ Himself.
Compassion is greatly lacking in the world today, but it should not be lacking in us as children of God.
God never told any of the angel, You are my Son, this day have I begotten you! God never gave to any angel a throne, much less His throne to sit upon. God never put the world in subjection to an angel, but only His Son!
It is so important to our Christian life that we eat the Word daily, that we taste it, chew it, and digest it's contents to feed our souls!
The disciples of Christ had not yet learned the grace of humility, so the Lord taught them by His example of washing their feet.
It is very important that each of us a Christians to spend quiet time with God our Father in prayer daily.
Christ must have the preiminence, not Moses or any of the prophets. This is the writer's objective to the Hebrew Christians! Christ's Supremacy!
Even though David had been through very tough times, God blessed Him in the midst of those times.
When we think of "AN HEIR", we generally think of children who "inherit" their parents' possessions and estate at death! But that is NOT how we are to view "God's Son" as Heir to the Father…. for God cannot and will not die. We must understand that God appointing His Son as His Heir is not a human transaction!
And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
If I could take one verse out of this wonderful book as an overall theme, it would be: "Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith!" In the Book of Hebrews, you should see Christ, as far superior to all the prophets and angels, and far superior to Moses. And then, you should see Christ being far superior to the Levitical priesthood of Aaron. In the old covenant, once every year, Aaron passed out of the sight of the people into an earthly tabernacle with blood, not his own, but that of a lamb to make atonement for the sins of the people.
The Christian life cannot be lived apart from the Word! Pick up (V10-16) "The heavens and earth (the creation through which God's declares His glory) will pass away, BUT my Words shall not pass away".
And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness.And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.Isaiah 48:10
And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
..you child of God, you are not to be like the wicked, who live without any expectation or anticipation of Christ's return, NO…. but you have willingly bowed to Christ, now you are a watcher and one who is always "LOOKING" for His return.
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
The Return of Christ or The Second Coming of Christ is a very important truth that each one of you should know from the scriptures, and while there are some things hard to understand, there are clear and plain things to understand about the return of Christ as well.
We are all in danger of being lured away from the True God to idol worship. Anything more important to you than God is your idol!
There are times when you will be the Christian who has suddenly been overtaken in a fault, fallen into sin, and there will be times when you will be the restorer of your brother or sister who has fallen into sin.
Psalm of Unity Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
God has called each of you as Christians to this ministry of converting or recovering your wandering Christian brother or sister.The Lord Jesus warned us about the dangers of being led astray and deceived Every one of you, children of God are called to THIS ministry of recovering, reclaiming, and converting those "among us" who may stray or err from the truth. This passage answers the question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" Yes, you are!
PRAYING TO GOD, my brethren should have THIS sanctifying effect on each of us! If anything will STOP you from effectual, effective, fervent, and earnest prayer, it's trying to PRAY, while holding and harboring sin in your heart toward another! Psalm 66:1
Here in Gethsemane, Jesus began to enter the darkness of His sufferings as He grappled with what He knew to be His Father's will- never before do we read of our Lord being so conflicted, struggling in prayer like we see Him here in Gethsemane as He pondered His cross, and what MUST take place between He and His Father- - He knew this to be the determinate counsel of foreknowledge of God His Father- That He MUST suffer and die at the hands of sinful men, TO SAVE His people from their sins- But the approaching reality greatly disturbed Him-
Here in Gethsemane, Jesus began to enter the darkness of His sufferings as He grappled with what He knew to be His Father's will- never before do we read of our Lord being so conflicted, struggling in prayer like we see Him here in Gethsemane as He pondered His cross, and what MUST take place between He and His Father- --Preached at Community Baptist Spring Bible Conference 2022
The death of Saul and Jonathan. The Amalekite stranger and Davids grief and answer to the strangers lies.
The gospel of Jesus Christ EXCEEDS and EXCELS the glory of the law or the shining, but vailed face of Moses in that it clearly and plainly reveals the way of life and salvation to sinful souls-.
How does God execute His decrees-- God executes His decrees in the works of creation and providence. Gen. 1-1- Rev. 4-11- Matt. 6-26- 14-28-31... Acts 14-17
-The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me-- He has found NO SIN IN ME- No, not even one secret sin or offense against my Father and God, nor against any man-. so that he might have caught me in, and so condemn me- He has nothing- After Jesus was betrayed by Judas, He was questioned by the high priest- John 18-19-21 - I want you to see here that Jesus was precisely Who He said He was-He was not, -like so many of us-, one thing in public, and another in private.- Every moment of His earthly life He was perfectly holy and without sin- but He was perfectly righteous in every way-
Dear saint of God, YOU OUGHT to have this -A GOSPEL EFFECT- and -THIS GOSPEL INFLUENCE- on your family, your world, your personal society- - And KNOW THIS- When YOU HAVE diffused gospel knowledge to lost sinners who WILL NOT turn from their sins to Christ, to them, you are a savor of death. But to those who receive the gospel of Christ, to them, you are a savour of life- John 3-16-21
How does God execute His Decrees.-God executes His decrees in the works of creation and providence. -Gen. 1-1- Rev. 4-11- Matt. 6-26- Acts 14-17-- What is the work of creation-- The work of creation is God's making all things of nothing, by the Word of His power, in the space of six days, and all very good. -Gen. 1-1- Heb. 11-3- Ex. 20-11- Gen. 1-31-
Love to Christ should therefore -FOR YOU- BE SPIRITUALLY NATURAL since you are a new creature in Christ SINCE you are a partaker of the divine nature--- In Christ, beloved, you ought always to be sitting at the King's table- Your love to Christ ought always to be diffusing the beautiful fragrance of the love of Christ from within you, in your conversation and in how you carry yourself in this world toward both the saved and toward the perishing-
Beloved, we must learn from the Apostle Paul's heart toward -the church at Corinth, that discipline and reproof must not be -mean spirited and harsh, but they should be meted out in love. -Our hearts should be grieved when see sin in the lives of -ANY- more so, when we behold the sins of saints- Pastors and -churches should never glory or boast when God leads them to -rebuke or reprove someone- but when needed, it should be done -compassionately, mercifully, and in love.
before Jesus' arrest, God's Word reveals to us a great -internal struggle and conflict in the Lord Jesus' spirit. -In our text, we read of -THE CONFLICTED PRAYER- of the -Lord Jesus- this prayer, in which, He struggled mightily- -This had never happened in His life, but NOW, the -realization of His death on the cross was very near. It -wasn't the physical trauma of death that terrified Him, nor -the shame of it, but it was what would happen between He -and His Father in His death-
This chapter gives an account of What came about from King Sauls willful disobedience to the Lord.. his unrepentant attitude and his reliance on the flesh instead of seeking the Lord....the battle between the Philistines and the Israelites, which had been preparing for, and the issue of it- in which Saul, his three sons, and his servants, were slain, upon which his army fled, and several of his cities were taken- what the Philistines did with his body and his armour, - the former of which, together with the bodies of his sons, the men of Jabeshgilead rescued, and burnt them, and buried their bones under a tree at Jabesh, expressing great sorrow and concern, .
If you have a love for Christ -like Mary did-, you will long -to be in His presence, WHEN THIS IS TRUE ABOUT YOU, the -fragrance and aroma of your love to Christ will spread, -diffuse, and fill the place where you are-.it will be hidden -from no one, just like Mary's ointment filled the whole house -where they were. The bride's spikenard gave forth it's sweet -fragrance because she loved the King, and because she was with -Him at His table.
Davids concern for every man and he shares equally with those that tarried by the stuff as well as sharing all that they recovered and the spoils of the battle. He gives credit to the Lord for the recovery of all.
...accusations and questions about Paul and his -companions arose in the church. This man doesn't do what he -says he is going to do, he's not a man of his word- Can we -trust what he says- -No doubt the wicked one had got into the minds of some into -the church to sow discord, to sow distrust toward Paul and his -ministry companions.-If Satan could ruin Paul's testimony and call in question his -integrity in the church, he could destroy the church at -Corinth. This is why he wrote to them about -testimony of his -conscience-
it was not -natural beauty- that He beheld in her, but her face or her -cheeks adorned with jewels-- her neck adorned with chains of gold- - What are we to understand in what He saw in His bride but the -church adorned- with grace from Christ- What are we without His grace- - What the Lord Jesus Christ SEES in His church, which is so beautiful and comely is what He has adorned her with and lavished upon her- There is nothing beautiful-naturally comely in any of us-
God INTENDS to USE YOU Christian as an instrument of -comfort and encouragement to other Christians- -In the troubles and sufferings of your Christian life, GOD IS-separating you from this world and from your besetting sins,-and He is conforming you to the image of Christ- Don't ever -forget, child of God, you are not of the world, you no longer -serve the god of this world, but you are a servant of Christ-and His Kingdom, YOU ARE of that otherworld, that upper world, -that heavenly and eternal world-
Is God your closest Friend. -Do you fellowship with Him in prayer... Do you speak to Him as a friend .. face to face.. Not forgetting He is the High and Lofty One.. but in intimate closet prayer...In our prayers we should be drawing closer to our Father -and God, we should be becoming closer and more intimate -with Him- we should be -telling Him our hearts- and pouring -our hearts out to Him, our fears, our besetting sins, our -spiritual weaknesses, our sorrows, and yes, our prayers for -our lost loved ones.
Paul begins 2 Corinthians by teaching us -ONE OF- God's designs for all the troubles that he, Timothy, Titus, and the other apostles endured in their ministry. This is one of the -REASONS- and -WHY- all of these things happened to us-
TELL ME saith the bride- Where do you feed your flock- TELL -ME, where your pasture is, that blessed gathering of your -people, so that I may ALSO be in YOUR COMPANY and in the -company and fellowship of your FLOCK--This should be your heart-cry when you stray and wander -from Christ and His church- -For those who SAY, I don't need the church, I don't need to -gather with the saints- that is like saying, I don't need -Christ,....
- Learn here, beloved, that although Paul was an Apostle of Christ and a great man, he was but a man, and although a man of great faith in the Lord, he was also a weak and fallen human, subject to like passions, fears, and anxiety, like all of us.--I'm not highlighting this, to demean Paul, or so that you might think it ok to descend into worrying, fear, and anxiety in your Christian life- understand that -the desired end state- for every child of God is to trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and to LEAN NOT unto your own understanding.--2.-Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord--Jesus Christ-- This is Paul's prayer for them---We are too prone to quickly pass over these very familiar and--similar opening salutations of the NT epistles.
Ziklag, is burned with fire,.. all is taken,.. all is gone.. the exhausted men don't know if they are dead or alive.-...but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God... and enquires of Him what should he do...---And He answered him, Pursue- for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
How could the God-Created sun, shine in its bright, God given -glory, as the Son of God and Creator of the heavens and earth -was hanging on a cross between heaven and earth, DYING for the -sins of fallen humanity-
Running to Him was an expression of her joy and love to Him- There is no other joy or gladness like this -to be brought near to Christ- - The bride then confesses- -I am black but comely- -She is speaking to the daughters of Jerusalem- - Remember, the daughters of Jerusalem -I believe- represent true believers, but their love and affection for the bridegroom is NOT where the bride's love and affection IS for the bridegroom-
-Why are you angry- The first time we see -anger in the Word of God, it is the anger of Cain, who's -offering was rejected by the LORD, while his brother's -offering was accepted. I pray the Lord will teach us, this -evening, the grave danger of sinful anger-
There is no doubt that David experienced the rage of kings -and rulers in his day, but the spiritual substance and marrow -of this Psalm points our faith NOT to David the son of Jesse-and his kingdom, but to Jesus, the Son of God, and His -Kingdom-- Believer-...be prepared, you will experience indignation and hatred, -directed at you. You will hear things like- Who are you to -TELL ME that I am a sinner- Don't judge me- That's your -opinion- -Translation- -We will not have THIS MAN to reign over -us-. I will NOT submit to God's authority or obey His -commands or His gospel- -This rage against Christ has permeated every facet of our -society.
Q.- How many Persons are there in the Godhead---A.- There are three Persons in the Godhead, The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit- and these three are One God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory-
This SHOULD BE the heart language and supplication of every -child of God, BUT LOOK HARDER child of God, THIS is actually a -confession of her infirmity and shame, of her deadness and -sinfulness that she must be drawn to the One is -Altogether -Lovely-. This is MY INFIRMITY-
David beguiled the gullible Achish.. but not the King's fighting men.... God used the Princes of Philistine's dislike and distrust of David to deliver him from the terrible situation in which he found himself -and consequently, his men- because of his own deceit. But there was worse waiting at home for the weary soldiers...
Q.- How many Persons are there in the Godhead--A.- There are three Persons in the Godhead, The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit- and these three are One God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory---John 14-9,.18-John 12- 44,45,49 and 50-John 6-38-40-Hebrews 1-1-5-Psalm 2-7-8-Psalm 110-1 see Hebrew 1-12 and Acts 2-34---Acts 5-3-4 Holy Ghost revealed as God-Ephesians 4-30 -grieved -1 Thessalonians 5-19 -quenched-Romans 15-30 - Love of the spirit-Isaiah 63-10- Vexed-1 Corinthians 12-11- performs actions of a person
They had -addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints-- Beloved, what is written of Stephanas and his family ought to be true of all of us- Paul made it clear in his apostolic writings that the churches were undergirded and strengthened by -MANY- devoted hands and hearts.-Paul's apostolic ministry to the churches -and to us today- -DEPENDED on the help and ministry of Stephanas and his family. -They were -fire and forget- Christians-.--a missile able to guide itself to its target once fired- -Beloved, let us follow their example to be -addicted to the -ministry of the saints--
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous- And he is the propitiation for our sins- and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected- hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you- because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
THIS LOVE is presented to the eyes of our understanding as a love story between One Man and One Woman. I do not believe this to be written literally of Solomon or of his relationship with one of his -many wives-. - We will read of those who seem to be true believers, and yet, -they do not yearn after Christ like the bride- these are outer -court and not and not inner sanctuary Christians, babes in -Christ- -daughters of Jerusalem--
Christian, because you have bowed the knee to Jesus, because you serve Him, you will be hated by the world- ....-You, Christian, are called to -stand fast-- TO HOLD YOUR GROUND in Christ, never retreat from it. It is noteworthy that Paul just concluded teaching the Church at Corinth the truth of the resurrection. He wrote -Be ye steadfast and unmovable- in the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and in the truth of the resurrection of the saints- Stand firm in it-
The Song of Solomon is GOSPEL RICH, in it, the special love -between Christ and His church is described- And we must -also not miss that the love of Christ was commended and -communicated to us when we were helpless, polluted, -wandering and filthy sinners- -Listen to the expressions of love from God to Jerusalem- -when she was full of her abominations, filthiness, and her -sins-
the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem-And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.-And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
Beloved, we ought to care for our sister churches and send -relief when our brethren in other cities and countries are -in need. --Paul communicated his intentions and plans to -visit the church at Corinth- -it may be that I will abide, yea, -and winter with you--Paul teaches us a valuable spiritual lesson here,...--Paul's instructions concerning Timothy-Apollos-
You know,... there were bystanders at the Cross. You know what a bystander is-.. A bystander is somebody that says... - I'm not really involved,.. I'm just kinda watchen-.....-Well, there were multitudes around the cross of Christ like that. - Not necessarily involved. I don't really have an opinion about this thing... I just want to watch--These are the - I don't want to get involved- type of people. -Now here's what you need to know when it comes to the Lord Jesus Christ... You're involved whether you want to be or not. There are no bystanders when it comes to the Judgement of the Great Day.
The ungodly are nothing like the godly- The godly -do not walk -or conduct themselves in their lives- like the ungodly- they DO NOT listen to or follow their ungodly opinions nor their ungodly counsel.-The godly DO NOT LIVE habitually sinful lives, nor do they STAND in the way of sinners. The godly walk not according to the -course of this world-, that is NOT THEIR WAY- Last, the godly do not SIT in the scorner's seat. -Ungodly, sinners might -hide and mask- their ungodliness under the color, appearance, and -form of godliness- but in their inner being, they are rotten to the core, full of hypocrisy and iniquity, and NOTHING LIKE the godly- -How might we KNOW a -masked Christian-- Paul told Timothy how he might KNOW THEM.
To the ungodly, to sinners, scorners and mockers, the law of the LORD is undesirable and a curse- But not to the godly, God's Word - God's Law is what he -wants and desires-- It is his delight- To the godly man, it is MORE TO be desired than gold, YEAH, than much fine gold.-The GODLY man or woman DOES NOT live, behave, -converse, or communicate LIKE the ungodly, and to protect his -godliness, he is careful to NOT develop intimacies, close -relationships, and friendships with those who are ungodly-influencers-
God often teaches us powerful moral lessons of what and who we should be, by putting before us what and who we must not be- ....-If we, as children of God would WALK NOT in the counsel of the ungodly, we must begin by REFUSING to entertain, or listen to their advice, strong opinions, and counsel. And know this, the ungodly man HAS opinions, counsel, and advice for you, and he's gonna give it to you whether you want to hear it or not. But be assured of this, none of his counsel or advice includes honoring or obeying God-
We can read about the sufferings and death of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Words of the Holy Scripture, BUT INTO that divine transaction between God the Father and God the Son, which satisfied the demands of God's JUSTICE against a world of ungodly sinners we can only go so far-....- This morning, I want you to understand the VASTNESS of the death of Christ- but also, that you and your sins -Christian- were included in that mass of sin and wickedness put upon His Holy Person-
Paul transitioned from the doctrine of the resurrection of Christ AND the truth and hope of the resurrection of the saints-.TO THE CARE OF THE CHURCHES. -Paul's care for the churches was NOT ONLY preaching and teaching the gospel of Christ, he also ministered to their earthly-physical needs, sicknesses, and afflictions.
We see what happens as David is driven out of his own land and away from his own people and unable to worship with them and be encouraged by them... we see David's fear, and the weakness of his faith after the victory the Lord had just given him in his dealings with Saul. He was weary. He was disheartened. He didn't consult with the Lord before he fled to the Philistines.
The people of Israel at first had the tabernacle and then -afterward, the temple, where God met with them. But God no -longer descends in His glory upon the tabernacle or temple, He -abides in temples NOT made with hands. -You may build me a most magnificent house and place My Name -on it, saith the LORD, but you cannot build something more -majestic than what I have created in the heavens and the -earth- .... -God dwelleth not in temples made with hands, we do not come -HERE to this place to find God,......
Too much wine -as we've seen- will cause you to descend into sin and -wickedness- TOO MUCH of the love of Christ -if there is such a thing- will cause you to ascend above this earthy and filthy world, away from sin, and into the pure and holy presence of God- When Christ kisses you with the kisses of His lips, you are -instantly immersed- in the river of heavenly, sanctified pleasures-
-Now this I say brethren, that flesh and -blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God- neither doth corruption -inherit incorruption--You cannot enter heaven as you are, with mortal, corruptible, -and sinful bodies that are dying- There MUST be a major -change- Christian, you have been made new within- -regenerated, brought to life, resurrected from spiritual -death, and changed, but your body AT PRESENT is sinful,-mortal, corruptible, and earthy. It is NOT fit-capable of -entering heaven, IT TOO, MUST BE COMPLETELY CHANGED-
We are NEVER TO be STANDING STILL as Christians, BUT ALWAYS-ABOUNDING and moving forward in the work of the Lord- Always -growing, learning, being made wiser, holier, and brought -NEARER to the resurrected Christ today than yesterday. If -there is such a thing, being made MORE ALIVE today than -yesterday-
What is God. -Characteristics and attributes of God-Psalm 147-5, 90-2, 89-14-James 1-17 -Revelation 4-8
Open rebuke is better-Than secret love.-Faithful are the wounds of a friend--But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.--Iron sharpeneth iron--So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
To US as -servants of God-, to Fear God means to love, honor, and -worship Him, and to revere and highly exalt Him. But also, to depend upon and trust Him, all of which SHOULD and MUST lead us to humble -obedience to Him- --To, NOT believe God, to NOT believe that He is, and to NOT believe His Holy Word is to disregard and dishonor Him.
-Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.--If you ever think you're something... in your Christian life...then you're obviously thinking that you merit some praise. and if you ever think that you merit some praise,.. then you're not walking by the grace of Jesus Christ.
Beloved of God, that day should not overtake you as a thief, -but you should be a watching and expectant people. You should -be -looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of the -Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ-
David would not stretch forth my hand against the Lord's anointed- nor suffer another to stretch forth his hand against him- - David is still on the run from King Saul ... He had to continue to run away from Saul to preserve his life. This time he found himself in the wilderness of Ziph with Saul in pursuit. Only this time, David found Saul before Saul could find him... yet again he would not harm him nor allow another to do so... he DID plead his case and ask again why he was being treated so... David was greatly outnumbered .. but it didnt stop him from trusting the Lord. He longed for peace..
Every one of us, children of God, are IMAGE BEARERS now- Your life Christian, should be STAMPED with the image of Christ- You should continually be being CONFORMED - TRANSFORMED to the IMAGE of Christ-
..if YOU ARE in Christ, saved from your sins and from the captivity of Satan, you should always have a good store of good treasure- -fresh- -knowledge and wisdom from the Holy Scriptures in your heart so that you can teach and instruct others about Christ, and how they might be freed from the Kingdom of darkness.
-But some man will say, How are the dead raised up- and with what body do they come---1 Corinthians 15-42-49- Paul in this section wrote of the body at the time of -burial, when -at death- it is sown or planted in the dust of the earth. -It is sown or buried in corruption, dishonor, weakness, as a natural body. -It is raised or resurrected incorruptible, and in glory and power, a spiritual body. -Spiritual body might seem to be a contradiction. Will you be a spirit- Or will you have a body- Answer- YES
Psalm 37-23 says The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.. George Muller would add.. -and his stops too-. The Lord guides us into the things He would have us do.. But He also stops us from doing things we should not do.. for which we need be grateful.. as seen here in David's life . It is an example and lesson to us.
Christian, it is YOUR responsibility to know the gospel of -Christ and the Holy scriptures- If you don't know what you -believe about your own salvation, you are in grave danger of -being deceived- -tossed to and fro and carried about with -every wind of doctrine- by deceivers standing behind pulpits -like this one- BE NOT DECEIVED, CHRISTIAN-
They weren't pastors, teachers, prophets or even apostles, they were humble and devoted servants of Christ, who risked their own lives in their service to the Lord. - These beloved saints who were LITTLE KNOWN to us, but KNOWN to God, served Christ in the background where their left hand couldn't see what their right hand was doing.
Now the name of the man was Nabal- and the name of his wife Abigail- and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance- but the man was churlish and evil in his doings- and he was of the house of Caleb.--4 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.--5 And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name---6 And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.--7 And now I have heard that thou hast shearers- now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.--8 Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes- for we come in a good day- give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.--9 And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.--10 And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David- and who is the son of Jesse- there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.--11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be---12 So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.
The Holy Scriptures teach us ALL to -always be looking for and expecting the Lord Jesus to return.
What do the Scriptures principally teach--speaking on --Sound Doctrine- - The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God and what duty God requires of man.- 2 Tim. 3-16,17- John 20-31- Acts 24-14- 1 Cor. 10-11- Eccles. 12-13
To those who refuse to acknowledge God in their lives, who refuse to turn from their sins to Christ, their days of old age will NOT ONLY be full of bodily afflictions and weakness, but darkness and bitterness of the soul.- Days of no hope and nothing to look forward to, days, in which you will say- I have no pleasure in them......Remember NOW thy Creator in the days of thy youth, -BEFORE the evil days come--
If you're not -in Christ-, if you're not born again by the Spirit of God, you're still -in Adam-. To be -in Adam- is to be lost, dead in your trespasses and sins, estranged from God, separated from God, and at enmity against God-
To come to the Lord's table lightheartedly or without any reverence for Christ or understanding of how bad your sins were -AND ARE- is to think lightly of sin and to disesteem the Lord Jesus Christ. -To come to ANY Lord's Day worship gathering without any understanding the great and high cost of your redemption and salvation is to disrespect the LORD of glory and His goodness-kindness-His grace to us as sinners-
The Lord brings understanding by the Word. Preached and Read.--Luke 24- 25-27... 44-48....31-32----Romans 10-17----Hebrews 8-10-12-- Jeremiah 31-33-34--1 Corinthians 1-18-312--Jeremiah 9-23-24----Do not boast in knowledge- Luke 17-9-10----All glory to God for giving us understanding-
As children of God, we should enjoy every day that God gives us under this sun. Though this world is fallen and full of sin and wickedness, and though there are present distresses and afflictions that every one of us are faced with, KNOW THIS CHILD OF GOD, if the sun has risen upon a new day for you, it is because God is still actively working in your life---But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all- yet let him remember the days of darkness- -which approach- for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity-
Have you thought about the life of Samuel.. the long life.. all he did and where he went.. what he had and dint have.. He was such an enormous influence and such a strong leader in the nation of Israel. Its good to take a closer look at him. - And Samuel died- and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.--And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel- and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats- and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.--Now the name of the man was Nabal- and the name of his wife Abigail- and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance- but the man was churlish and evil in his doings- and he was of the house of Caleb.
To deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is to -deny the truth of the Holy Scriptures, which is the eyewitness -testimony of the Apostles- whom God appointed to write-record-these things for every age to come. -Since the fall of man into sin in the Garden of Eden, all of us -have been doing our worst to ruin our own lives and our souls. -If your salvation was left up to you and me, none of us would -have any hope of ever being saved. Just as the resurrection of -Jesus Christ from the dead was a miraculous work of God, so also -is your salvation-
May all men make use of the Scriptures----- All men are not only permitted, but commanded and exhorted, to read, hear, and understand the Scriptures.--John 5-39- Luke 16-29---Acts 8-28-30- 17-11
Beloved, be encouraged, for Solomon teaches the -wisdom of God- our part is to be faithful gospel witnesses, liberal and generous with the good seed of the Word- you're not wasting your time---Cast thy bread upon the waters- for thou shalt find it -after many days-.-Trust the LORD beloved with those upon whom you have sowed -the good seed of the Word-..don't despair and grow weary-
1 Corinthians 15-5-11 5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve- 6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once- of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7After that, he was seen of James- then of all the apostles. 8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am- and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain- but I laboured more abundantly than they all- yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.--2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.--3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave- and Saul went in to cover his feet- and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.--4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.--5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
May all men make use of the Scriptures--- All men are not only permitted, but commanded and exhorted, to read, hear, and understand the Scriptures.
Solomon now comes to a sin that has been prevalent in every generation since the fall- thinking-speaking evil thoughts about the King -or civil authorities- in secret. -.... many -Christians- stop being spiritually minded, and instead they become politically minded and politically motivated and they develop political enemies, OF WHOM they THINK and SPEAK EVIL.--But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart- and they defile the man.- Matthew 15-18
-Why are you here, believer- Why didn't God just take you on to be with Him when he save -you- Why did He fill you with His Spirit- -Act 1-8- We are here, church, b-c we are His -witnesses- We are His ambassadors- 2Co 5-17-21 applies to all who have been made new -creations. Is that message of v. 21 worth sharing- Is there any better news- When you get -the best -fill in the blank- you've ever had, do you keep that to yourself- People post it on -social media, tell it to friends, family, AND strangers, and they go back for more -themselves- The former demoniac had one message that stirred up the ten-city region -around him- -Go and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you and how He's -had mercy on you.- -Mar 5-19-For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus- for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews---- Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us- and they please not God, and are contrary to all men-
The child of God loves Christ and uses his wealth and money in this world lawfully, knowing that earthly money can never pay the debt of his sin, nor the ransom of his soul.-The true child of God -knows full well- that money and earthly riches -cannot answer- matters of the soul in the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life. True righteousness cannot be purchased with wealth and riches-
And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah- how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines---4 Then David enquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah- for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.--So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
Dealing with false doctrine.-The Holy Spirit leads us into all Truth.-The scriptures warn us.
The gospel of Christ is NOT the gospel of Christ if Christ did not rise -ALIVE- from the gravel Paul therefore dealt with the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ -and the resurrection of saints- at length to quell this lie that had crept into the church from -SOME- false teachers among them.- That brings us to the opening text of 1 Corinthians 15-1-11- 1 Corinthians 15- 1- Paul wrote- Let me REMIND you that THE gospel that I -PREVIOUSLY PREACHED- to you IS the same gospel that I NOW DECLARE unto you again-- There is no indication that the Corinthian Church had denied the resurrection of Christ, but only that there were -SOME- in the church spreading this false teaching that -there is no resurrection of the dead-.
Slothfulness, Idleness, or laziness are some of the most prevalent sins of our society- destructive among youth in our day, who often sit physically idle for hours on smartphones playing games or surfing social media platforms. -The young are not the only ones plagued with slothfulness-idleness-
The gift of tongues was not given so that the church might become more chaotic and confused, but that the gospel might go forth -clearly and plainly- into every nation and language in the world, and that it might be understood by those that heard it-
EVERY Christian should -desire- to be used of God -to edify and strengthen- the church- But know that God is -The Giver- of every spiritual gift, and every spiritual gift is to be used in love to Christ, to magnify His Name, and to expand -His following- and the borders of His Kingdom-
Beloved of God, it is judgment to a nation when God takes away wise from among its leaders and sets up fools to rule and lead that nation. -- Let it never be -beloved of God- that God -takes away- the wise from among us and from our Christian assemblies- Let us NEVER put our confidence in man, but ALWAYS Trust in the LORD- - James Downing Sr.---Woe to the land whose king was a servant and whose princes feast in the morning. Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time- for strength and not for drunkenness.
How do we know the Bible is the Word of God.-For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.-Acts 18-28
Charity never faileth- but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail- whether there be tongues, they shall cease- whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.-- For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.-- But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.--When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child- but when I became a man, I put away childish things.- For now we see through a glass, darkly- but then face to face- now I know in part- but then shall I know even as also I am known.-And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three- but the greatest of these is charity.
Even as a child of God, Satan wants to fill your mind with -doubts and fears- he wants to influence you toward sin and -wickedness so that you WILL DOUBT your salvation- Satan wants -you to be discouraged and depressed, and to have no assurance of -your salvation- -The helmet of salvation keeps the wicked one out of your head-and protects your mind and your thoughts from taking hits from -Satan, and fiery darts into your mind- The helmet of salvation -strengthens your assurance and your hope of eternal life from -Satan's assaults-
Now therefore what is under thine hand- give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.--And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread- if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.--And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.--So the priest gave him hallowed bread- for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.--Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD- and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.
Christian, your faith is to be used and--exercised toward trusting God.--What record does your faith give Christian--- Does your--life testify to your faith in Christ- Yours-My faith--should give report to all who know us that God is true-----God does not test His faith in you to see for Himself if it--works, He's testing His faith in you so that YOU WILL SEE it.--The trying of your faith is NECESSARY for you, to prove to--YOU the genuineness of it-
in spiritual warfare and in the Christian's resistance to the devil, faith, -likened to a shield, has the preeminence as the most important piece of the -Armor of God, TO BE TAKEN UP -ABOVE ALL- the other pieces of this -spiritual Armor.-1st- This piece of the armor, -this shield is -true and saving faith-.- 2nd- The shield of faith has -preeminence over all of the other spiritual armor.- 3rd- The fiery darts of the -wicked one are able to be effectively quenched by the shield of faith.
Beloved our hope is a sure and steadfast hope which confidently -rests in the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ---Agape love endureth all things--This word endure is a military term, it means to continue, -stay, remain, and persevere even when being assaulted. Agape -love endures every assault.
The Christian life without agape love is like Christianity without Christ. -Agape Love- does not originate in this world but from God- it is given to every believer at the new birth, and then TO BE individually - deliberately cultivated in your life, Christian- Agape Love is the first fruit of the Holy Spirit, therefore, if you're a Christian, you MUST possess agape love in your spirit-
What is the word of God ---1.God is the author of Scripture.--John 14-16-- 1 Corinthians 2-12-16-- Exodus 4-10-12-- Numbers 22-38--2.Scripture is divinely inspired and profitable.-- 2 Timothy 3-16-17-- Romans 15-4-- John 17-17-- 1Thessalonians 2-10-13-- Titus 3-8--3.The word of God is the ultimate standard.--Isaiah 8-20--Psalms 12-6-7--Proverbs 30-5-6--Micah 3-5-6--Jude 3,4,13,16-19
Are you SURE FOOTED in gospel of peace- Can you hold your ground against your adversary- EVERY Christian, as a -soldier of Jesus Christ MUST have his-her feet prepared to -stand firm in the gospel of peace-. -YOUR HEART, Christian, must BE resolved, equipped with the truth, so that you're SURE FOOTED and able to stand and hold your ground -in the gospel- in spiritual battle against your adversary the devil.
but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.-......---And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee- for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee----Jonathan love David.. the Lord had knit their hearts together.. and he loved his father, the King,.. who hated David.. and wanted him dead...what heartbreak to learn this ,... what was he to do about it..-What can we learn from this heart ache of both of these godly young men..
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power--Colossians 2-10
Child of God, make no mistake about it- Satan is going to fire at your heart -your soul-, he wants you to lose heart- he wants your will to be turned back to him and the world- he wants to expunge the life of God from within you. He wants to draw back unto perdition- that is why the breastplate of righteousness is so important.- -Pastor Downing
We have read in chapter 18 that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. ..and we continue to learn how this is expressed by both young men as they navigate the envy and cancerous sin of Saul's seeking David's death.. and David's tenderness concerning Jonathans love for his father.. and in their parting.
How do we know there is a God--The light of nature in man, and the works of God, plainly declare that there is a God- but His Word and Spirit only, do effectually reveal Him unto us for our salvation. -Rom. 1-18-20- Psalm 19-1,2- 2 Tim. 3-15- 1 Cor. 1-21-24- 1 Cor. 2-9,10-
Here's what it all comes down to, where is your heart- What do you rejoice in- In the world and in its pleasures- Or do you find your joy and your rejoicing in Christ and in the love of Christ, in this beautiful agape love- - Sin and iniquity are CONTRARY to God's love- diametrically opposed to this Christ-Like -agape love-- Agape love cannot find joy, nor will it rejoice in sin and wickedness and ill-will toward others-
The Love that cannot be provoked to sin- -Do you have it-- Do you seek it---One of the devil's -often used wiles or methods- is to find something -in the world- that you feel very strongly about, and someone -in the church- that disagrees with you- that's when he will aim his fiery dart into your mind to incite and stir you up against your brother or sister in Christ- - If you take the bait, his work is done- While he's got you distracted, he's gathering up the good seed. Oh, he'll be ready right after the service-to get your mind focused on anything but the Word-
We walk -and war or resist the devil- by faith in God -not in the -flesh-, but in God's strength and might- -One of Satan's primary tactics is to get you to -war in the flesh- and in the world against other humans. He doesn't want you to fight the good fight of faith- he wants to bring you down to his ground, he wants you to fight among yourselves in the world, and in so doing, to cripple you spiritually, by causing you to resist the wrong enemy- Ephesians 6-12-Now to each piece of the Armour of God- What is it- How do I put it on- -How do I use it- First- What is it-
-Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows- yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.---We can read those words,.. but we cant even come close to the death that He suffered -There is only One successful Saviour,..Who will not fail you. Every fallen human needs this Saviour,....The Son of Man, the Lord Jesus Christ- Because though you WILL die,. This Prince,.. This Saviour,.. will bring you up from the grave and will save you not from physical death,.. you must cross that river,.. But He will save you from ... eternal death.
Christianity without love is of no value, it is orthodox religion that loves itself rather than Christ- And it is powerless to save and sanctify- This love is God-Like, God-Given, and not of this world. It is the love that we see so beautifully demonstrated in the life, sufferings and death of the Lord Jesus Christ-
This is one of the most important passages in all of the Holy Scriptures. In it, Paul speaks of a supernatural strength and a necessary protection against Satan, who is the common - constant enemy of every Christian in the world.-- If you're going to endure unto the end and be victorious in your Christian life, you're going to need -A Strength- that comes from outside of yourself, and spiritual armor that you do not naturally possess.- -Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.-
What is the chief end of man- -Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel- and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts-- -I am the first and I am the last-- besides me there is no god.
If you're genuinely saved, born-again by the Spirit of God, -AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT-, it will matter to you that you've sinned against God, it will grieve and hurt you in your heart that you've hurt your Lord and dishonored His Name, and you won't stay there-- - As a learning -newborn- Christian, you might be saying, I didn't know all of this- THAT is why it is SO important for you to assemble and gather with the saints on the Lord's Day- THE church is the primary means of grace by which God will speak to you and teach you- - 1 John 1-5-10, Psalm 37-23-24, Proverbs 24-16
Child of God, YOU ARE the Church- YOU NEED the church- Without the church, -coupled with your HEARTY DEVOTION to it-, you will NOT be strengthened in your soul, and you will NOT excel and mature in the faith- -If you are NOT devoted to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be like SO MANY -professing Christians- who walk on the outer edge and periphery of the camp and fellowship of the saints. -You will be an -Outer Court Christian- who does not love the church- Can you be a Christian and NOT love the church of the Lord Jesus Christ-
And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin- but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall- and David fled, and escaped that night.
1.Who is the first and chiefest being---The word -catechism- comes from the Greek word kat-che-, meaning -to teach.- They are collections of short questions and answers. While often used with children and those new to the faith, a good catechism has much to offer even the mature Christian.-Using the Baptist Catechism...also known as Keach's Catechism or The 1695 Catechism
Beloved, if a church is doctrinally correct but has no -agape love- in its leaders and members, it is a dead body which practices a -servile religion.
-Which He hath purchased with His own blood-- Pastors must never forget that the sheep BELONG to Christ- Pastors are stewards call by God to oversee, feed, watch, protect, and care for the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, -I will build MY CHURCH-.